preble



E. N. PREBLE.

SOLE PBESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men MAY 31. 1911.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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E. N. PREBLE.

SOLE PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY31 19H- 1 9 1 93., 1 $6 Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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E N. PREBLE.

SOLE PRESSING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION man MAY 3 Patented Aug. 1,1916.

4 $HEET$*SHEET 3 li igfiu E. N. PREBLE.

SOLE PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

535mm; W M

EDWIN N. PREBLE, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOLE-PRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed May 31, 1911. Serial No. 630,294.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN N. PREBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and. State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sole-PressingMachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it apper-- tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sole pressing machines, and more particularlyto sole pressing machines comprising complemental sole molding forms foroperating upon the sole before the sole is incorporated in the shoe. Inmachines of this class, the sole molding forms are arranged for relativemovement to produce pressure in molding a sole and to afford clearanceto permit the removal of the molded sole and the placing of another soleon the sole supporting form. Machines of this class are usually providedwith sole gripping devices to prevent the displacement of the soleduring the relative pressure producing movement of the forms and withgaging devices to enable the sole to be accurately positioned on thesole supporting form.

One object of the present invention is to provide sole pressing machinesof the class referred to with sole gripping andgaging.

clearance producing movement of the forms.

to actuate the gripping device to release the sole.

Certain other features of the invention relate to improvements in theconstruction, arrangement and mode of operation of the gaging devicesfor determining the position of the sole with relation to the forms.

In the drawings illustrating the invention in the best form at presentknown to the inventor: Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a solemolding machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of aportion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, illustrating particularlythelower molding formand thegripping and gaging devices associatedtherewith; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of. the mechanism illustrated inFig. 2; Fig. 1 is a detail front elevation illustrating particularly theheel gage and the mechanism for adjusting the same; Fig. 5 is a detailplan view also illustrating the heel gage and the adjusting mechanismtherefor; Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the mechanism illustratedin Fig. 5.

The machine in which the present invention is embodied, a portion ofwhich is illustrated in the drawings, is a double machine, beingprovided with two sets of cooperating sole pressing forms substantiallyidentical in structure, arrangement and mode of operation. The upperforms are stationary, and the lower forms are reciprocatedsimultaneously in opposite directions toward and from the upper forms toproduce pressure and afford clearance. Since the structure andarrangement of the two sets of forms, and the actuating mechanismstherefor are the same, and since the gaging and gripping devicesassociated with the lower forms are duplicates of each other, theillustration and description of a single set of forms is consideredsufficient to give a clear understanding ofthe invention.

The upper form, illustrated in the drawing, is indicated at 1 and isremovably mounted in the usual manner upon a stationary cross head 2 ofthe frame.

3 indicates the lower or sole supporting molding form, which isremovably mounted upon a vertically reciprocatingcross head 4 arrangedto move upon guide rods 5. The sole supporting form 3 is adjustablevertically upon the cross head 4 sov as to enable soles of differentthicknesses to be molded properly. The molding form 3 may be verticallyadjusted by means of a wedge block 6 engaging said form,.and adjustedlongitudinally thereof by a rod 7 journaled in the bearing 8 formed onthe cross head and threaded into said block, said rod being operated bya hand wheel 9. Reciprocating movements are imparted to the cross head 1to move the lower form toward and from the upper form to producepressure and clearance by means of toggle levers 10 connected with alink 11 operated by a crank shaft 12.

In order to enable the operator to position accurately the sole withrespect to the lower molding form, the machine is provided with a heelgage indicated at 13. The gage is formed with two sole engaging flanges14 arranged approximately at right angles to each other and a web 15spanning the space between the flanges and provided with a recessedportion 16 to receive the fixed jaw of a sole gripping device to behereinafter described. When the sole is placed in position upon thelower 'molding form, the heel portion thereof is positioned with itsrear edge engaging the flanges 14 and the lower face of the sole engagesand is'supported by the web 15.

It is customary to use the same set of molding forms for several sizesof soles, and in order to permit the heel gage to be adjustedlongitudinally of the sole supporting form 3 for soles of differentsizes, the gage is mounted to slide upon a guide bar 17 carried by anarm 18 of a bracket 19 secured to the cross head 4 and is held on saidguide bar by means of a plate 20. The heel gage is adjustedlongitudinally of the sole supporting form by means of a threaded rod 21engaging a threaded perforation in a lug 22 carried by the heel gage,and arranged to rotate in a bearing 23 formed upon the arm 18 of bracket19. The said rod carries at its rear extremity a pinion 24 whichconstitutes one member of a train of speed increasing gears 25, 26, 27,24 arranged as shown particularly in Figs. 4, 5. and 6. The gear 25 isfixed upon a stud shaft 28 journaled in a bearing in the arm 18. Fixedto the forward extremity of this shaft is an operating arm 29 by whichthe shaft may be manually rotated. The heel gage is adjustedlongitudinally of the sole supporting form by rotating the shaft 28 andthereby imparting through the speed increasing gears 25, 26, 27, 24 anincreased rotary movement to the rod 21.

V In order to enable the operator to adjust the heel gage accurately, ascale disk 30 is loosely mounted on the shaft 28 to the rear of thearm29 and is held from turning with the shaft by means of a latch 31pivoted at 32 on the arm 18 of the bracket 19, the forward extremity ofwhich latch is arranged to engage one of a series of notches 33 in thedisk 30, and is held in engagement with the notch by means of a spring34. Upon the front face of the disk 30 is a series of numberscorresponding. to the various sizes of different classes of shoes, and ahand or indicator 35 is formed on the operating arm 29. The soles ofdifferent styles of shoes of the same class vary somewhat in length andthe notches 33 in the disk 30 enable the disk to be adjusted toaccommodate these variations. hen the operator is about to mold a lot ofsoles of a certain class and style, he first takes a sole from the lot,places this sole in the desired position on the sole supporting form,and adjusts the heel gage so that the heel of the sole is properlyengaged by the flanges 14. The disk 30 is then adjusted so that theindicator 35 is opposite the number on the scale corrcspending to thesize of the sole. When the disk is thus properly adjusted for theparticular class and style of soles that are to be molded, the heel gagemay be accurately adjusted for any size of this class and style bymoving the indicator 35 until it is opposite the number of the scalecorresponding to that particular size. The speed increasing gears fortransmitting movement from the shaft 28 to the rod 21 enable the heelgage to be adjusted quickly since it is necessary to impart to the shaft28 less than a complete rotation to adjust the gage for any style andsize of shoe. By reason of the provision of these gears, a scale plateprovided with a single series of size numbers about the circumferencethereof may be employed so that confusion in the use of the adjustingmeans is avoided.

The gripping device for grippin and holding the sole in position duringthe operation of the molding forms thereon in the present embodiment ofthe invention comprises a fixed jaw 36 formed on the guide bar 17, and amovable jaw 37 arranged to move toward and from the fixed jaw to graspand release the solo. The movable jaw 37 is carried by a lever 38pivoted upon a pin 39 carried by spaced ears 40 formed on the arm 18 ofthe bracket 19. IVhcn the movable jaw 37 is closed upon the fixed jaw36, the heel of the sole is gripped by said jaws and held in position onthe sole supporting form.

The mechanism for actuating the movable jaw 37 in the constructionillustrated in the drawing comprises a rock shaft 41 mounted in bearings42 and 43 formed respectively in the bracket 19 and in a second bracket44 also secured to the cross head 4. A lever 45 is attached to this rockshaft and is connected at its extremity with a rearwardly projecting arm46 on the lever 38 by means of a ball ended link 47, the ball shapedextremities of which are held and operate in sockets in the arm 46 andin the lever 45 respectively. By means of this construction, when therock shaft 41 is rocked in its bearings, the movable jaw of the grippingdevice is moved toward and from the fixed jaw thereof. In order toactuate the rock shaft, an operating arm 48 is secured thereto which isoperated during the reciprocating movements of the cross head 4 by a camplate 49 secured to one of the side standards of the machine inalinement with the arm 48. The cam plate 49 is formed with a surface 50substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the cross headand with cam surfaces 51 and 52 arranged to engage the extremity of thearm 48 upon upward and downward movement of the cross head 4. When thecross head is in its lowermost position, the extremity of the arm 48rests in the recess formed between the cam surfaces 51 and 52 as shownparticularly in Fig. 3. When the cross head is moved upwardly to carrythe lower molding form toward the upper form to produce pressure upon asole, the extremity of the arm 48 first engages with the cam surface 51,thereby rocking the shaft 41 and actuating the movable jaw 37 to graspthe sole supported upon the lower form. Further upward movement of thecross head 4 carries the extremity of the arm 48 into engagement withthe surface'50 of the cam plate and the movable jaw of the grippingdevice is thereby maintained in gripping relation with the fixed jawthereof during the operation of the molding forms on the sole. When thecross head is moved downwardly to carry the lower molding form away fromthe upperform to produce clearance, the engagement of the extremity ofarm 48 with the surface 50 of cam plate 49 maintains the movable jaw ofthe gripping device in gripping relation with the fixed jaw of saiddevice until the cross head 4 executes its final downward movement whenthe extremity of the arm 48 contacts with the cam surface 52 therebyrocking the shaft 41 in the opposite direction and opening the jaws ofthe gripping device to release the sole.

The sole gripping mechanism above described is simple in construction,certain and reliable in operation, and is capable'of general applicationto sole molding machines,

I since it is operated by the relative pressure and clearance producingmovements of the molding forms.

The side gage for determining the position of the edge of the sole withrespect to the sole supporting form indicated at 53, is mounted on andpreferably formed integral with the inturned upper end of an arm 54secured to a supporting arm 55 carried by a sleeve 56 mounted on therock shaft 41. In order to permit the side gage to be adjusted tocorrespond with the different positions of adjustment of the lowermolding form, the arm 54 is secured to the supporting arm 55 by means ofa clamping screw 57 passing through a slot in the supporting arm andscrewed into the arm 54. To provide for the adjustment of the side gagelongitudinally of the lower form so that the gage may be properlypositioned for forms of difierent sizes, the sleeve 56 is splitlengthwise for a short distance and is clamped in adjusted position uponthe rock shaft 41 by means of a wedge nut 58.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that upon the upwardor pressure producing movement of the lower molding form, the side gagewill be carried by the movement of the rock shaft 41 beyond the edge ofthe lower form so that it will not be crushed by the forms as they arebrought together. When the lower form is moved away from the upper formto produce clearance, the movement ofthe rocle shaft 41 carries the sidegage into contact with the acting face of the lower form. By providing acommon operating mechanism for actuating the gripping jaws and the sidegage, the operating mechanism for these devices is rendered simpler andmore compact.

Since substantially the entire mechanism of the gaging and grippingdevices is carried by the brackets 19 and 40 secured to the cross head4, these devices may be readily applied to molding machines of thevarious types at present in common use. The said devices are alsoindependent of the molding forms so that the said forms may be placed inthe machine and removed without disturbing the gaging and grippingdevices.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and havingspecifically described one form of mechanism in which it may beembodied, what is claimed is 2-- 1. A sole pressing machine, having, incombination, complemental sole molding forms, means for relativelymoving said forms to produce pressure and clearance, a sole grippingdevice mounted beyond the forms and bodily immovable with relation toone of the forms to grip the sole after it has been located withrelation to the forms, and means controlled by therelative pressureproducing movement of said forms to actuate said device to grasp thesole as the forms are brought together and hold it in position until thesole is engaged between the forms.

2. A sole pressing machine, having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, a sole gripping device mounted beyond the formsand bodily immovable with relation to one of the forms to grip the soleafter it has been located with relation to the forms and hold it inposition as the forms are brought together until the sole is engagedbetween the forms, and means controlled by the relative clearanceproducing movement of said forms to actuate said device to release thesole.

3. A sole pressing machine, having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, a

sole gripping device mounted beyond the forms and bodily immovable withrelation to one of the forms to grip the sole after it has been locatedwith relation to the forms, and means controlled by the relativepressure and clearance producing movements of said forms to actuate thegripping device to grasp the sole and hold it in position as the formsare brought together until the sole is engaged between the forms and torelease the sole as the forms are moved relatively to positions -ofclearance.

A. A sole pressing machine having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, a sole gripping device bodily immovable withrelation to one of the forms to grip the sole after it has been locatedwith relation to the forms and hold it in position as the forms arebrought together until the sole is engaged between the forms, a sidegage associated with one of said forms and arranged to move toward andfrom the acting face thereof, and means controlled by the relativepressure producing movement of said forms to actuate the gripping deviceto grasp the sole and to move the side gage beyond the edge of theforms.

5. A sole pressing machine having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, a gripping device bodily immovable with relationto one of the forms to grip the sole after it has been located withrelation to the forms and hold it in position as the forms are broughttogether until the sole is engaged between the forms and a side gageassociated with one of said forms, and means controlled by the relativeclearance producing movement of said forms to actuate the grippingdevice to release the sole and to move the side gage into engagementwith the acting face ofssaid last mentioned form.

6. A sole pressing machine having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, a gripping device bodily immovable with relationto one of the forms to grip the sole after it has been located withrelation to the forms and hold it in position as the forms are broughttogether until the sole is engaged between the forms and a side gageassociated with one of said forms, and means operated by the relativepressure and clearance producing movements of said forms to actuate thegripping device to grasp and release the sole and tomove the side gagebeyond the edge of and into engagement with the acting face of said lastmentioned form.

7. A sole pressing machine having, in

combination, complemental sole molding forms, means for relativelymoving said forms to produce pressure and clearance, a gripping devicearranged to grasp and release the sole, a side gage arranged to movetoward and from the acting face of one of said forms and actuatingmechanism common to both the gripping device and the side gage.

8. A sole pressing machine comprising a sole supporting form, a heelgage for determining the position of the sole with respect to thesupporting form, mechanism for adjusting the gage longitudinally of theform comprising a threaded rod, a member threaded on the rod, anindicator, a series of speed increasing gears connected with theindicator for relatively turning the rod and member, a connection formoving the gage from the relative movement of the rod and said memberlongitudinally of the rod, and a scale-plate cooperating with theindicator to indicate the size of the sole for which the gage isadjusted.

9. A sole pressing machine comprising a sole supporting form, a heelgage for determining the position of the sole with respect to thesupporting form, mechanism for adjusting the gage longitudinally of theform comprising a threaded rod, a member threaded on the rod, anindicator, a series of speed increasing gears connected with theindicator for relatively turning the rod and member, a connection formoving the gage from the relative movement of the rod and said memberlongitudinally of the rod, a scale-plate cooperating with the indicatorto indicate the size of the sole for which the gage is adjusted, andprovision for adjusting the scale-plate.

10. A sole pressing machine having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, sole gripping jaws bodily immovable withrelation to one of the forms to grip the sole after it has been locatedwith relation to the forms and hold it in position as the forms arebrought together until the sole is engaged between the forms, a rockshaft arranged to actuate said jaws to grasp and release the sole, anoperating arm fixed to said shaft, and a cam plate fixed to the machineframe and arranged to engage said arm and operate the same during therelative pressure and clearance producing movements of said forms.

11. A sole pressing machine having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, mechanism for relatively moving said forms to producepressure and clearance, sole gripping jaws bodily immovable withrelation to one of the forms to grip the sole after it has been locatedwith relation to the forms for holding the solo in position on the solesupporting form, and mechanism acting automatically to relativelyactuate the gripping jaws during the initial relative pressure producingmovement of said forms to grasp the sole and to maintain the said jawsin sole gripping relation until the forms approach the end of theirrelative clearance producing movement, said mechanism being constructedand arranged to actuate the gripping jaws to release the sole during thefinal relative clearance producing movement of the forms.

12. A sole pressing machine having, in combination complemental solemolding forms, sole gripping jaws for holding the sole on the solesupporting form, a rock shaft arranged to relatively actuate said jaws,a side gage mounted on said rock shaft, and means to operate said rockshaft during the relative pressure and clearance producing movements ofsaid forms.

13. A sole pressing machine, having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms toward and fromsubstantially alined positions of clearance to produce clearance andpressure, a sole gripping device, and means controlled by the relativemovement of said forms from substantially alined positions of clearanceto positions of pressure to actuate said device to grasp the sole andhold it in position until the sole is engaged between the forms.

14. A sole pressing machine, having, in combination, complemental solemolding forms, means for relatively moving said forms toward and fromsubstantially alined positions of clearance to produce clearance andpressure, a sole gripping device, and means controlled by the relativemovement of said forms toward substantially alined positions ofclearance to actuate said device to release the sole.

EDWIN N. PREBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

